Safety control system eob elevators



J. C. A. ANDERSON.

SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION mu) JULY 11, 1914.

1,1 95,1 28. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

nu: NORRIS "mks 01:..PNu1n-urnm, wAsHmamN. 0. av

JOHN C. A. ANDERSON, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR, ELEVATORS.

Application filed July 11, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. A. ANDER- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stat of Illinois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety ControlSystems for Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanys ingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to safety control systems for elevators and moreparticularly is an improvement over my co-pending application Serial No.802,8d3, filed November 24, 1913.

My invention contemplates the provision of a system of control so thatthe operating devices within an elevator car are suitably controlled bythe doors leading to the hatchway.

In the preferred form of my invention when applied for instance to alever controlled operating device, the controlling means take the formof apparatus of such a nature that whenever a door is open the operatinglever is restored to its neutral position and suitably held there, butpreferably held in such a way that by the use of extraordinary force thelever may be operated in an emergency should such be necessary. Ofcourse, the control system can however be of such a nature that nooperation of the lever can take place when a door is open, as willreadily be apparent from the structure which will presently be describedin detail.

My invention herein contemplates a preferred form of control structureof such a nature that the neutral position of the operating lever may bechanged and accommodated for o as to allow for leaking valves or otherimperfect apparatus. In the operation of hydraulic elevators, forinstance, it may be found that the valves leak and that it is notimmediately possible to overcome the difliculty. Under such conditionsthe operator is required to hold the control lever in a positionslightly removed from its normal neutral position in order to keep thecar at a standstill. The control devices aforesaid which are under thecontrol of the door must therefore be arranged to accommodate for thischange so that the lever is held in that position when the car remainsat a standstill whenever the door is open.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the floor 1.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Serial No. 850,428.

In the preferred form of my invention, I provide suitable adjustingdevices in connection with the control mechanism by reason of which I amenabled to effect adjustment. It will of course be understood thatoperating devices other than a lever would fall within the scope of theterm lever as applied throughout this specification, and claims.

I will describe one form which my invention may take more in detail byreferring to the accompanying drawing illustrating the same, in whichFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a sys; tem constructed in accordancewith my invention; and Fig. 2 shows the parts in an alternative positionsomewhat enlarged.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, I show diagrammatically a floor 1of an elevator car, in which car there is suitably provided a startinglever 2 adapted to control a cable 3, which cable of course extends tothe starting and stopping devices for controlling the movement of thecar. The lever 2 in this specific form is provided with an extendingstud 4 carrying the two arms 5 and 6. These arms at their extremitiesare each provided with holes 7 adapted to carry bolts 8, connected tosuitable tension elements or chains 9 and 10 respectively. These chains9 and 10 are linked to the plunger 11 associated with the solenoid 12.This solenoid is preferably mounted within a suitable magnetic framework13 and may desirably be attached to the underside of The attachment ispreferably done by means of bolts 13 passing through slots 13, whichslots are larger than the bolt so that the entire electromagnetic devicemay be adjusted longitudinally for purposes which will appear presently.The arrangement of the chains is such that whenever the solenoid isattracted to the full position shown in Fig. 1, that then these chainsare taut and hold the arms 5 and 6 in such a position as would beoccupied by them when the lever 2 assumes its neutral posit-ion.

Now whenever the lever 2 is actuated in either a clockwise orcontraclockwise direction, then one of the chains is taut and the rotatethe lever 2 into its central or neutral position as shown in Fig. 1. Nowthe solenoid 12 receives its current from any suitable source of supply,here shown as a generator 14:, and the circuit through the generator andsolenoid 12 is controlled through the agency of suitableinstrumentalities bridged to extending conductors 15 and 16. Theseconductors extend into proximity to each one of the doors 17, 18 and 19,it being of course desired that each door which permits access to thecar he also provided with controlling devices to prevent operation ofthe car should the particular door be open. Each door may be providedwith a projection 20 adapted to control circuit through springs 21 and22. Normally when this projection is away from the springs as shown inthe case of the door 17, then the circuit through the springs 21 and 22is closed, thus closing the circuit across the conductors 15 and 16,thereby completing circuit through the solenoid 11, whereby to attractits core 11 and draw the hand lever 2 into its neutral position shouldthe handle at that particular time be away from that particularposition.

Now whenever the doors are closed as shown in the case of the doors 18and 19, then the circuit through their springs 21 and 22 remains openand the solenoid 12 remains unenergized. It will thus be seen that thesolenoid always restores the handle 2 into its central position wheneverany door is open, and thus would tend to hold it in that position, thusto prevent manipulation of the cable or movement of the car during thetime any such door is open. The bolts 8 are preferably attached tosocket members 23 which are seated in circular recesses 2st provided inthe opposite extremities of the arms 5 and 6. Nuts 25 are provided sothat the length of each chain element 9 or 10 can be adjusted to suitthe requirements. For instance, if a valve as before stated is leaking,in the operation of a hydraulic elevator, then the lever 2 must be heldto one side of the center to keep the car at a standstill. The controldevices can be adjusted to accommodate for this by adjusting the nuts 25and by lengthening or shortening one or the other of the chains 9 and 10and shortening or lengthening the other chain accordingly. Thus wheneverthe door is open the lever would be held in that position which wouldprevent movement of the car. The solenoid itself together with theframework 13 is adjustable to accommodate for the necessary distances,as already stated. The elevator is thus prevented from creepin Thenagain it may be that the lever must be held to one side of the center Itmay be under such conditions that it is desirable to have a little playin the chains when the solenoid is fully attracted so as to screws 29and inserting washers or distance pieces between the rim 30 of this coreportion 27 and its abutting portion of the frame work 13. A bleeder port31 is provided through the core portion27 so that there will be noconfined air. between this core portion and the plunger 11. From this itwill be noted that the control devices can be adjusted to accommodatefor these difierences as they occur inthe operation of elevators. Itisof the utmost importance that this change of the control system be madeas otherwise such a control system might tend to hold the operatinglever in a position when the car is continually creeping.

From what has been described the nature of my invention will be readilyclear to those skilled in the art, and

What I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A system of the character described comprising-an elevator car, acontrol lever, a door for permitting access to said car, anelectromagnetic device having a. core and tension members controlled by'said door when in an open position to restore or hold said lever in itsneutral position, a. stop to limit the movement of said core, and meansto adjust said tension members to change the neutral position ofthelever to thereby prevent creeping of the carwhereby said lever ispermitted a lost motion movement due to theadjustment of said tensionmembers and thestop for said core. 7

2. A system of the character described comprising an elevator car, acontrol lever; a door for permitting access to said car, anelectromagnetic device having a core and pivoted tension memberscontrolled by said door when in an open position to restore or hold saidlever in its neutral position, a stop to limit the movement of saidcore, and means to ad ust said tension member to change the neutralposition of the lever to 7 thereby prevent creeping of the car, wherebysaid lever is permitted a, lost motion movement due to the adjustment ofsaid tension members and the stop forsaidcore. 3. A system of thecharacter described comprising an elevator car, a control lever, adoorfor permitting access tosaid car, an electromagnetic device having acore and flexible tension members controlled by said door when in anopen position to restore or hold said lever in its neutral position, astop to limit the movement of said core, and.

means to adjust said tension members to change the neutral position or"the lever to thereby lrevent creeping of the car, Whereby said lever ispermitted a lost motion movement due to the adjustment of said tensionmembers and the stop for said core.

4. A system of the character described comprising an elevator car, acontrol lever, a door for permitting access to said car, anelectromagnetic device having flexible tension members controlled bysaid door when in an open position to restore or hold said lever in itsneut 'al position, and means to adjust said tension members to changethe neutral position of the lever to thereby prevent creeping of thecar, said means inciuding a tension member support, a. socket therefor,and means to adjust the relation of said tension members with theircooperating support.

5. A system of the character described comprising an elevator car, acontrol lever, a door for permitting access to said car, anelectromagnetic device having flexible ten sion members controlled bysaid door when in an open position to restore or hold said lever in itsneutral position, and means to adjust said tension members to change theneutral position of the lever to thereby prevent creeping of the car,said means including a tension member support, a socket therefor, andmeans to adjust the relation of said tension members With theircooperating support, said device including a solenoid, a plunger, afixed core for said solenoid, and an insulating stop for said plungermounted on said fixed core.

6. A system of the character described comprising an elevator car, acontrol lover, a door for permitting access to said car, anelectromagnetic device having flexible tension members controlled bysaid door when in an open position to restore or hold said lever in itsneutral position, and means to adjust said tension members to change theneutral position of the lever to thereby prevent creeping ot the car,said means including a tension member support, a socket therefor, meansto adjust the relation of said tension members with their coi5peratingsupport, and an adjustable mounting for said fixed core.

in Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of JuneA. ll, 191%.

JOHN C. A. ANDERSON. i Vitnesses HAZEL ANN JONES, MAX JV. ZABEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G.

